[Scratch Build] Project Simodd - Finished

[Fifas]

Hi guys,

First, let me say I'm sorry for my English. Not that good

Let's begin. So, explaining the strange name. Simodd - Sim Modd aka Simulator Modding. Strange, but not that hard to understand (need a better name )

One more thing, I'm sorry for the photo quality, but I don't have a good camera

Now, to the presentation. After my first mod I wanted to make something different. Something crazy! So I planned a Scratch Build Project.

Because I'm a Sim Fan, I planned something where I can put my G25 and play without fear of breaking my tiny desk one more time. So I started building a cockpit!

The design doesn't have anything new, but I build it at my way, with small details that make it unique!

And here, the first prototype almost ready, as you can see

And then, i took it to my room to a "test fit"

And then, painting, and last details...

The seat was removed from an old car and then repaired with new cloth.

After some time 'playing' with my new toy, I decided to take it to the next step. changing what's not that good, and making the last details

First, a Sketchup design.

And now, the hardware. It's not that great, but I don't have money for a new one

CPU: Intel P Dual Core E5300 @ 3.06GHz

MB: ASUS P5K Deluxe Wifi/AP Edition

RAM: 2x Corsair XMS2 1Gb + 1x Kingston 2Gb

VGA: ATI Radeon HD5850

HDD: Hitachi 250Gb + Western Digital 500Gb

Sound: Creative Audigy 2ZS

PSU: LC Power LC6550 V2

Starting with the hardware mod/tweaking for better looks

CPU Block Before

During:

And After:

Placed:

And these are the connectors I'm using:

And now a little more paint work

Don't forget the mainboard coolers

After:

Before:

After:

And a small detail in the board...Before:

Sanded:

And after (Blue LED)

And a test fit in my old case:

And then, I did a little test in the CPU Block. I didn't paint the sides of it, so it looks cool with a LED

And finally, I've started building the case for the hardware! This was build in Foamed PVC, because it's really light, and easy to work with. This case will be placed inside the seat 'base' (don't know how it's called :grr: )

Cutted pieces

And a important thing. Measure once, cut twice....oh wait

The only piece I didnt build...

Planning....

And finally, the fans I'm using! Cooler Master SickeFlow Blue! Really awesome and beautifull fans

More photos to come.

Thank you for watching!

[frozensnail]

Hey great idea & nice job of pimping up the mobo, like to see more as the work continues

[Fifas]

Hey great idea & nice job of pimping up the mobo, like to see more as the work continues

Thanks man

A little more progress...

Start working on the sleeving.

Did a "HDD mounting" (sorry...don't know how it's called ) and start testing the hardware...

And finally, the wood work on the seat base started.

And here, just to show the margin of error with the PSU

Finally, a little detail in the hardware window. A small dent in the wood for the acrylic

[Fifas]

Started the work in other parts. In this case, the monitor stand! (Phone photos alert! Sorry)

And next, start painting and cable management...

Let's do a little test

Finally, a artistic photo...Love it

[Fifas]

More progress. Hole for 3 120mm Fans in one side (I will not use those fans. They are just for testing.)

In the other side, preparing begins for USB and power/reset buttons

And finally, paint preparations began

And here comes one of that moments I completely forgot about everything else. It was thursday, and I'm trying to prepare everything to get to one LanParty on Friday. Painting and everything.

Challenge accepted, but i forgot about detailed pictures...SORRY!

Before going to the LAN, made a quick test, only to be sure everything works

And prepared some last details.

[Fifas]

As I said before, I did this with the objective of going to a Lan Party here in Portugal, so I assemble everything and went there. The project isn't finished, but here's the pictures of it in the LAN Party.

For my joy, I win first place in modding contest

Here you can see the side USBs and Buttons. (also, Faboya's awesome project by my side )

Here is a small detail. In the front of the build, I connect a Power and Ethernet cable, and everything it's connected inside

Now that I have more time available for the build, I will disassemble it and finish the interior. With detailed pictures

[Fifas]

Houston, I think I got a problem....

So, today i heard my water pump making weird noises. Disassemble the case and found this:

The wood used in the base is all ruined. I had planned to rebuild the base in a simpler way, so it is not a serious problem.

[Fifas]

So, while I do not find any wood to rebuild the base, I disassembled everything and started working on some details, and doing some maintenance .

First, removed the connectors in the front of the cockpit for remaking the electrical installation. As I said before, I only have a connector to power and LAN in the front. Everything is connected inside the cockpit.

here with the LAN connector

Next, did some work in the cuts for the cables in down side of the base. Here will go the PSU, LAN, VGA and USB cables to the Mainboard

Little detail in the front, for the cables go up

And with the carpet.

Next I decided to rebuild one side of the "interior case", because it was not good

Now, just for showing, the side of the case, with the USB and button holes

My buttons

And placed!

Now, this is not related to the MOD itself, but decided to do a little maintenance and a mod to the G25 gearbox

Started from disassembling it

Removed the spring and that little ball

And put a little spacer behind the spring for giving it a little streng

And next put some Heat-shrink tube in the ball. This way you dont listen that loud "click" that the gearbox does

Then started the assembling

Really better feeling than the original!

Next decided to clean my pedals. Latelly,I've noticed some "spiking" in my brake, so let's have a look. Removed them from the base

And after 3 years of abuse, I think I understand why they started the "spiking"

Poor pots

So, after all that mess cleaned, assembled everything

And last, did some soldering.

This will have the power to the PSU, and will have a hidden power strip for the G25/Monitor

I know this was more like a maintenance post, but it's kinda related to the mod

[frozensnail]

Really turned out well, the concept was a good one & water cooling the rig was good, quite a party piece at the LAN events

[Fifas]

Thanks m8!

The only problem of taking it to a LAN it's is weight and size. This is freakin heavy

I did all the cockpit in a "modular" construction, so this way, i can separate it in 3 parts and transport it

And Today I did a little more work

Found this connectores for the PSU cable

One side done!

Then, found this pieces for fixing the cables in the down side of the base

And started assembling the front

Then I did a little hole in the pedal base for passing the cable to the top

And continued with the assembling

At the end of the day, still had a little time for disassembling the g25 and do some maintenance

And found this gift

The cover of the gears is broken. I think I'm a little brute with the force feedback